Faculty Profile | Jessica Faulkner, PhD

Jessica Faulkner, PhD

Assistant Professor of Physiology

About Jessica Faulkner, PhD

Studies in the Faulkner laboratory explore the mechanisms of high blood pressure, metabolic dysfunction, renal and vascular damage and fetal growth restriction in obese and lean pregnancy. In particular, the laboratory focuses on the physiological alterations to the vasculature caused by abnormal hormone release and activity in the vasculature, placenta, adrenal gland and adipose tissue utilizing human tissues/cell lines and rodent models of preeclampsia. The laboratory is primarily exploring mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction, vascular endothelial cell biology and function, renal injury, lipid dysfunction, uterine artery blood flow, steroid hormone synthesis, leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling. Studies are approached with a translational perspective, utilizing transgenic and surgical mouse models as well as human tissues/cell lines to determine pathways involved in adverse outcomes of pregnancy in both mother and offspring in pregnancy. These results lead to mechanistic exploration of the underlying biochemical, molecular and genetic factors involved. Experiments to test our hypotheses include functional measures of blood pressure and vascular function, protein and mRNA expression measures as well as hormone, cell signaling and genetic analyses, among others. We approach all studies with translation and bench to bedside approach at the forefront. These studies are supported by ongoing grants from the NIH NHLBI, NIH NIDDK and the American Heart Association.

Research Focus

My research program investigates the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and fetal growth restriction utilizing animal models and clinical sample analysis. We use biochemical, molecular, genetic and endocrinological analyses to assess how certain factors lead to pregnancy disease.

Academic Focus

Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology
Pregnancy and Reproduction
Endocrinology
Grant Writing

Contact Information

jefaulkner@augusta.edu

(706) 721-4110

CA-3135

Education & Credentials

Ph.D., Pharmacology, University of Mississippi Medi, 2015

BS, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Augusta State University, 2008

Laboratory Info

Lab Location

CA-3132E

Publications

PURE Elsevier Google Scholar PubMed

Pure Publications

Publication
Eplerenone lowers maternal blood pressure in a model of leptin-induced preeclampsia, but decreases fetal growth when administered mid-, but not late-, gestation Mellott, E., Moronge, D., Cooper, G., Backer, K., Connor, G., Elgazzaz, M., Ogbi, S. & Faulkner, J. L., Feb 2026, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 330, 2, p. H581-H593 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Molecular Signatures of Preeclampsia: The Role of Post-Translational Protein Modifications Rodrigues, S. G., Assis, K. A., Silva, J. L. M., Privado, D. J. T., Alves, J. V., Faulkner, J. L., Bruder-Nascimento, T. & Costa, R. M., Feb 2026, In: Comprehensive Physiology. 16, 1, e70107. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Female sex hormones do not drive the sex-specific mechanisms of obesity-related hypertension Barris, C. T., Kress, T. C., Antonova, G., Jordan, C. R., Newman, A., Faulkner, J. L., Saeed, M. I., Kennard, S. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J., Dec 2025, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 329, 6, p. H1526-H1535 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Emerging Role of Leptin in Vascular and Placental Dysfunction in Preeclampsia Elgazzaz, M., Brawley, A., Moronge, D. & Faulkner, J. L., May 1 2025, In: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 45, 5, p. 585-599 15 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Prolonged obesity alters males’ adipose profile: implications for disease? Faulkner, J. L., Apr 2025, In: Physiological Genomics. 57, 4, p. 254-255 2 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Guidelines for sex-specific considerations to improve rigor in renal research and how we got there Ilatovskaya, D. V., Ogola, B., Faulkner, J. L., Mamenko, M., Taylor, E. B., Dent, E., Ryan, M. J. & Sullivan, J. C., Feb 2025, In: American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology. 328, 2, p. F204-F217 Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Persistent subclinical renal injury in female rats following renal ischemia-reperfusion injury Moronge, D., Godley, H., Ayulo, V., Mellott, E., Elgazzaz, M., Cooper, G., Mohamed, R., Ogbi, S., Gillis, E., Faulkner, J. L. & Sullivan, J. C., Feb 2025, In: Clinical Science. 139, 4, p. 309-323 15 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Endothelial METAP1: Tipping the Angiogenic Scales in Postpartum Preeclampsia Faulkner, J. L. & Alexander, M. R., Jan 17 2025, In: Circulation research. 136, 2, p. 191-193 3 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
An update on the role of sex hormones in the function of the cardiorenal mitochondria Shulha, A. S., Shyshenko, V., Schibalski, R. S., Jones, A. C., Faulkner, J. L., Stadler, K. & Ilatovskaya, D. V., Dec 2024, In: Biochemical Society Transactions. 52, 6, p. 2307-2319 13 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Mid-late gestation leptin infusion induces placental mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein responses in a mouse model of preeclampsia Faulkner, J. L., Takano, M., Ogbi, S., Tong, W., Nakata, M., Moronge, D., Cindrova-Davies, T. & Giussani, D. A., Dec 2024, In: Placenta. 158, p. 253-262 10 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Optimizing renal transporter immunodetection: consequences of freeze-thaw during sample preparation Hartman-Houstman, H. L., Ralph, D. L., Nelson, J. W., Palmer, L. G., Faulkner, J. E., Sullivan, J. C., Moronge, D. M. & McDonough, A. A., Oct 2024, In: American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology. 327, 4, p. F655-F666 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Revisiting sex as a biological variable in hypertension research Ryan, M. J., Clemmer, J. S., Mathew, R. O., Faulkner, J. L., Taylor, E. B., Abais-Battad, J. M., Hollis, F. & Sullivan, J. C., Sep 3 2024, In: Journal of Clinical Investigation. 134, 17, e180078. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Implications of pregnancy on cardiometabolic disease risk: preeclampsia and gestational diabetes Elgazzaz, M., Woodham, P. C., Maher, J. & Faulkner, J. L., Aug 2024, In: American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology. 327, 3, p. C646-C660 Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Both endothelial mineralocorticoid receptor expression and hyperleptinemia are required for clinical characteristics of placental ischemia in mice Moronge, D., Ayulo, V., Elgazzaz, M., Mellott, E., Ogbi, S. & Faulkner, J. L., May 2024, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 327, 1, p. H118-H130 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Author Correction: Generation and comparative analysis of an Itga8-CreER ^T2 mouse with preferential activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (Nature Cardiovascular Research, (2022), 1, 11, (1084-1100), 10.1038/s44161-022-00162-1) Warthi, G., Faulkner, J. L., Doja, J., Ghanam, A. R., Gao, P., Yang, A. C., Slivano, O. J., Barris, C. T., Kress, T. C., Zawieja, S. D., Griffin, S. H., Xie, X., Ashworth, A., Christie, C. K., Bryant, W. B., Kumar, A., Davis, M. J., Long, X., Gan, L. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J. & 2 others, Lyu, Q. R. & Miano, J. M., Jul 2023, In: Nature Cardiovascular Research. 2, 7, p. 702 1 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Physiology of Pregnancy-related Acute Kidney Injury Moronge, D., Sullivan, J. C. & Faulkner, J. L., Jul 2023, In: Comprehensive Physiology. 13, 3, p. 4869-4878 10 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Mechanisms of leptin-induced endothelial dysfunction Mellott, E. & Faulkner, J. L., Mar 1 2023, In: Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension. 32, 2, p. 118-123 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Salt Sensitivity of Blood Pressure in Women Barris, C. T., Faulkner, J. L. & De Chantemèle, E. J. B., Feb 1 2023, In: Hypertension. 80, 2, p. 268-278 11 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Generation and comparative analysis of an Itga8-CreER ^T2 mouse with preferential activity in vascular smooth muscle cells Warthi, G., Faulkner, J. L., Doja, J., Ghanam, A. R., Gao, P., Yang, A. C., Slivano, O. J., Barris, C. T., Kress, T. C., Zawieja, S. D., Griffin, S. H., Xie, X., Ashworth, A., Christie, C. K., Bryant, W. B., Kumar, A., Davis, M. J., Long, X., Gan, L. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J. & 2 others, Lyu, Q. R. & Miano, J. M., Nov 2022, In: Nature Cardiovascular Research. 1, 11, p. 1084-1100 17 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Endothelial leptin receptor is dispensable for leptin-induced sympatho-activation and hypertension in male mice Atawia, R. T., Faulkner, J. L., Mehta, V., Austin, A., Jordan, C. R., Kennard, S. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J., Oct 2022, In: Vascular Pharmacology. 146, p. 107093 107093. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Circulating cell-free micro-RNA as biomarkers: From myocardial infarction to hypertension Faulkner, J. L. & Sullivan, J. C., Sep 2022, In: Clinical Science. 136, 18, p. 1341-1346 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Midgestation Leptin Infusion Induces Characteristics of Clinical Preeclampsia in Mice, Which Is Ablated by Endothelial Mineralocorticoid Receptor Deletion Faulkner, J. L., Wright, D., Antonova, G., Jaffe, I. Z., Kennard, S. & De Chantemèle, E. J. B., Jul 1 2022, In: Hypertension. 79, 7, p. 1536-1547 12 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Obesity-associated cardiovascular risk in women: hypertension and heart failure Faulkner, J. L., Jun 2021, In: Clinical Science. 135, 12, p. 1523-1544 22 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Dietary sodium restriction sex specifically impairs endothelial function via mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent reduction in NO bioavailability in Balb/C mice Faulkner, J. L., Harwood, D., Kennard, S., Antonova, G., Clere, N. & Chantemele, E. J. B. D., Jan 2021, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 320, 1, p. H211-H220 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Selective deletion of endothelial mineralocorticoid receptor protects from vascular dysfunction in sodium-restricted female mice Faulkner, J. L., Lluch, E., Kennard, S., Antonova, G., Jaffe, I. Z. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J., Dec 2020, In: Biology of Sex Differences. 11, 1, 64. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Female Sex, a Major Risk Factor for Salt-Sensitive Hypertension Faulkner, J. L. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J., Dec 1 2020, In: Current Hypertension Reports. 22, 12, 99. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
17-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate improves T cells and NK cells in response to placental ischemia; new mechanisms of action for an old drug Elfarra, J. T., Cottrell, J. N., Cornelius, D. C., Cunningham, M. W., Faulkner, J. L., Ibrahim, T., Lamarca, B. & Amaral, L. M., Jan 2020, In: Pregnancy Hypertension. 19, p. 226-232 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Leptin restores endothelial function via endothelial PPARγ-nox1-mediated mechanisms in a mouse model of congenital generalized lipodystrophy Bruder-Nascimento, T., Faulkner, J. L., Haigh, S., Kennard, S., Antonova, G., Patel, V. S., Fulton, D. J. R., Chen, W. & De Chantemèle, E. J. B., Dec 1 2019, In: Hypertension. 74, 6, p. 1399-1408 10 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Mineralocorticoid Receptor and Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypertension Faulkner, J. L. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J., Oct 1 2019, In: Current Hypertension Reports. 21, 10, 78. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Progesterone predisposes females to obesity-associated leptin-mediated endothelial dysfunction via upregulating endothelial mr (mineralocorticoid receptor) expression Faulkner, J. L., Kennard, S., Huby, A. C., Antonova, G., Lu, Q., Jaffe, I. Z., Patel, V. S., Fulton, D. J. R. & Belin De Chantemèle, E. J., Sep 1 2019, In: Hypertension. 74, 3, p. 678-686 9 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sex hormones, aging and cardiometabolic syndrome Faulkner, J. L. & Belin De Chantemèle, E. J., Jul 1 2019, In: Biology of Sex Differences. 10, 1, 30. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Sex-specific responses to mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in hypertensive African American males and females Clemmer, J. S., Faulkner, J. L., Mullen, A. J., Butler, K. R. & Hester, R. L., May 9 2019, In: Biology of Sex Differences. 10, 1, 24. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Increased arterial pressure in mice with overexpression of the ADHD candidate gene calcyon in forebrain Elmarakby, A., Faulkner, J., Pati, P., Dan Rudic, R. & Bergson, C., Feb 2019, In: PloS one. 14, 2, e0211903. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Leptin and Aldosterone Faulkner, J. L. & Belin de Chantemèle, E. J., Jan 1 2019, Aldosterone. Litwack, G. (ed.). Academic Press Inc., p. 265-284 20 p. (Vitamins and Hormones; vol. 109). Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Lack of suppression of aldosterone production leads to salt-sensitive hypertension in female but not Male BALB/c mice Faulkner, J. L., Harwood, D., Bender, L., Shrestha, L., Brands, M. W., Jane Morwitzer, M., Kennard, S., Antonova, G. & Belin De Chantemèle, E. J., Dec 2018, In: Hypertension. 72, 6, p. 1397-1406 10 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Identification of novel macropinocytosis inhibitors using a rational screen of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs Lin, H. P., Singla, B., Ghoshal, P., Faulkner, J. L., Cherian-Shaw, M., O'Connor, P. M., She, J. X., Belin de Chantemele, E. J. & Csányi, G., Sep 2018, In: British Journal of Pharmacology. 175, 18, p. 3640-3655 16 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Arachidonic acid metabolites of CYP4A and CYP4F are altered in women with preeclampsia Plenty, N. L., Faulkner, J. L., Cotton, J., Spencer, S. K., Wallace, K., LaMarca, B. & Murphy, S. R., May 2018, In: Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators. 136, p. 15-22 8 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The regulation of aldosterone secretion by leptin: Implications in obesity-related cardiovascular disease Faulkner, J. L., Bruder-Nascimento, T. & Belin De Chantemèle, E. J., Mar 1 2018, In: Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension. 27, 2, p. 63-69 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Selective inhibition of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid lowers blood pressure in a rat model of preeclampsia Faulkner, J. L., Plenty, N. L., Wallace, K., Amaral, L. M., Cunningham, M. W., Murphy, S. & LaMarca, B., Jan 2018, In: Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators. 134, p. 108-113 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sex Differences in Mechanisms of Hypertension Associated with Obesity Faulkner, J. L. & Belin De Chantemèle, E. J., Jan 1 2018, In: Hypertension. 71, 1, p. 15-21 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

View All Publications.

Lab Members

Safia Ogbi

Research Manager

Logan Baker

Research Assistant

Mona Elgazzaz, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Amber Ajamu Johnson

Graduate Student

Elisabeth Mellott, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Amalia Brawley, MD

Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow

Anxhela Treska, MD

Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow

Lab Spotlights

American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowships

2024-2026 Mona Elgazzaz, MD, PhD

American Society of Nephrology Predoctoral Fellowships

2024 Desmond Moronge, PhD

Faulkner Lab

Other Accomplishments:

Mona Elgazzazz, PhD, MD, Augusta University Dean's Travel Award recipient 2025, APS Cardiovascular Section Research Recognition Award, APS Summit 2025, Society for Reproductive Investigation President's Presenter Award 2025, Council on Hypertension New Investigator Travel Award, 2024 Scientific Sessions
Elisabeth Mellott, AHA Council on Hypertension Onsite Poster Presentation Award 2025, 2^ndplace, Augusta University 3 minute Thesis Competition, AHA New Investigator Travel Award (Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2022)
Desmond Moronge, PhD AHA Council on Hypertension Trainee Advocacy Poster Award 2023, APS Renal Section Steven M. Horvath Professional Opportunity Award (APS Summit 2023), AU Graduate School Excellence in Research in Physiology 2023, AHA Award for Underrepresented Minorities (Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2022), AU Graduate School Viranda Mahesh Award for Excellence in Endocrinology 2022, APS Martin Frank Minority Travel award (APS Control of Renal Function in Health and Disease Conference, 2022)
Madison Ives, APS Physiological Reports Award, APS Summit 2024, Winner of best Presentation for "bench Bedside", MCG/Georgia Southern Joint research Conference, Savannah, GA 2024

Programs of Study

Resources

Outside the Classroom

Apply to AU

Opportunities

Financial Aid

Community

Campus Services

Get Involved

Opportunities

Initiatives

Resources

Leadership

We are AU!

Resources

Faculty Profile | Jessica Faulkner, PhD

Jessica Faulkner, PhD

About Jessica Faulkner, PhD

Research Focus

Academic Focus

Contact Information

Education & Credentials

Laboratory Info

Publications

Pure Publications

Lab Members

Lab Spotlights

Great Doctors, Great Medicine Since 1828.